The battle between GSNHOF and Outside the Boxscore continues into week 3. Ben gained a bit on me this week (he went 10-6 last week, GSNHOF went 9-7), so this week we're out to show Ben and the OTB team that last week was a fluke. From this point forward, we're aiming to never lose a week to OTB for the rest of the season. Lofty goals, but we're damn good.This week, I'm making the picks while throwing in which teams I think have the hutzpah to advance to the playoffs. I never really made preseason predictions...so consider my commentary to be sort of that.
The Picks:
Browns at Ravens - Ravens
Easiest pick of the week: The Ravens could be Super Bowl bound, while my Brownies are bound for a Top 5 pick in the draft. Games against the Jaguars, Bengals (2), Raiders and Lions are winnable for the Browns in their future, but it's going to be a long season in Cleveland again this year.
Redskins at Lions - Lions
Upset special - this is where I think Stafford gets his first win. The Lions are not good, but they played with a little pizazz the last two weeks and seem hungry. The Redskins put up 9 points on a woeful Rams team last week to barely eke out the win. It'll be close either way, but I just don't see the Redskins pulling this out.
Jaguars at Houston - Texans
Easy win for the Texans, fresh off a big offensive game. MJD may run all over the Houston defense, but they've definitely got enough firepower to win this one as proven last week. If the Texans figure it out on defense we could see playoffs for them, otherwise they'll join the Jaguars on the outside looking in come December.
Falcons at Patriots - Falcons
Damn good game here. If Wes Welker plays it's even better, and the teams are dead even. But minus Welker and Mayo, the Patriots just aren't as big a threat, and the Falcons are looking great right now. I see Atlanta in the playoffs at season's end, the Patriots may sneak in as a wild card once they get healthy and get used to working together again. And nothing will fire Bill and Tom up like a 1-2 start.
Packers at Rams - Packers
Okay, maybe this is the easiest pick of the week. The Packers lost to the Bengals, which is embarrassing for everyone's preseason SB pick. They'll come out ferocious in this one, destroying a terrible Rams team that has scored 7 points all year. I don't see the Pack getting far in the playoffs though, the defense is opportunistic but gives up too much and I don't believe in Ryan Grant.
Giants at Buccaneers - Giants
Byron Leftwich has been good. Eli Manning is a lot better. Giants will definitely make the playoffs, Tampa Bay might be able to sneak into a wild card spot.
Titans at Jets - Titans
Big game here, I'm calling it the game of the week. Solid team with good defense and good offense that is somehow 0-2. Surprising team with great defense and good young offense that is somehow 2-0. The Titans really need this game, and I think they get it, if only because Darrelle Revis won't affect this run first offense nearly as much as he affected the two pass first teams the Jets faced this year. I could see both these teams making the playoffs, though the Jets appear much more of a lock at this point.
Chiefs at Eagles - Eagles
Tough game to call with all the QB injuries on both teams. But I think the Eagles are a lot more talented than the Chiefs, and a healthy backup (Kolb) will get his first win over Cassel and the gang. Eagles could make the playoffs if McNabb stays healthy after Week 5, but it won't be easy at all.
49ers at Vikings - Vikings
The 49ers have been huge this year, and they look pretty good on both sides of the ball. But Purple Jesus is just too good, and the 49ers are not quite talented enough to start 3-0. I think the Vikings beat out the Packers and win the division this year. The 49ers may have playoff aspirations as well, however, as the Seahawks and Rams aren't too great and the Cardinals are...well...the Cardinals.
Saints at Bills - Saints
Can't. Stop. Drew. Brees. Saints are winning the NFC South, no question.
Bears at Seahawks - Bears
Jay Cutler suddenly looked like an NFL quarterback again. And as much as I love Seneca Wallace, I don't think he's got what it takes to beat a decent Bears team if Matt Hasselbeck can't go. Even if Matt can go, the Seahawks offense isn't running that well yet, and I think the Bears will take care of it as a result. I don't see either of these teams making th playoffs.
Steelers at Bengals - Steelers
Cincy has played two very good games so far, and one of the biggest surprises for them (and the NFL) has got to be the fact that Cedric Benson looks like a serviceable back. But the Steelers are defending world champs, and 1-1 upstart teams really shouldn't be able to beat 1-1 far superior teams coming off a big loss.
Broncos at Raiders - Broncos
Every Broncos game is ugly this year. Every Raiders game has been ugly for years and years. I could actually see the Raiders pulling this one out in similar fashion to last week's win over the Chiefs, but I'm going Broncos because they're the better team. Man the AFC West is terrible this year, but San Diego should win by default.
Dolphins at Chargers - Fins
Well...maybe San Diego won't have such an easy time winning the division. The Dolphins looked real good last week, particularly in the run game. The Chargers haven't looked terrific and Sproles is not a 30 carry back, so I see the Fins pulling this one out. As I said above, Chargers SHOULD win the AFC East by default. The Fins have an outside shot at a wild card, but I kind of doubt it.
Colts at Cardinals - Colts
Arizona looked better last week, especially in the running game. But the Colts are the Colts, and they're still pretty damn good. I see Colts going to the playoffs, I see Cardinals beating out the 49ers, but only by a little.
Monday Night:
Panthers at Cowboys - Cowboys
Dallas should have opened their new stadium with this game. Jake Delhomme is still trying to figure it all out. I don't think that MNF in the biggest stadium in America is the best place to try to exorcise your demons. This could be over quick.
So there you have it. If you disagree, let me hear it, but I think those are pretty solid choices. Oh, and my official "if the season ended today" predictions?
AFC East: NY Jets
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Chargers
Wild Card 1: Steelers
Wild Card 2: Patriots
Just Missed the Cut: Texans, Dolphins
Super Bowl Representative: Ravens
NFC East: Giants
NFC North: Vikings
NFC South: Saints
NFC West: Cardinals
Wild Card 1: Falcons
Wild Card 2: Cowboys
Just Missed the Cut: Packers, Eagles, 49ers
Super Bowl Representative: Saints (The Cardinals made it last year. Why no the Saints?)
Super Bowl Winner: Ravens (because the Saints can't reaaaally win, can they?)
Easiest pick of the week: The Ravens could be Super Bowl bound, while my Brownies are bound for a Top 5 pick in the draft. Games against the Jaguars, Bengals (2), Raiders and Lions are winnable for the Browns in their future, but it's going to be a long season in Cleveland again this year.
Redskins at Lions - Lions
Upset special - this is where I think Stafford gets his first win. The Lions are not good, but they played with a little pizazz the last two weeks and seem hungry. The Redskins put up 9 points on a woeful Rams team last week to barely eke out the win. It'll be close either way, but I just don't see the Redskins pulling this out.
Jaguars at Houston - Texans
Easy win for the Texans, fresh off a big offensive game. MJD may run all over the Houston defense, but they've definitely got enough firepower to win this one as proven last week. If the Texans figure it out on defense we could see playoffs for them, otherwise they'll join the Jaguars on the outside looking in come December.
Falcons at Patriots - Falcons
Damn good game here. If Wes Welker plays it's even better, and the teams are dead even. But minus Welker and Mayo, the Patriots just aren't as big a threat, and the Falcons are looking great right now. I see Atlanta in the playoffs at season's end, the Patriots may sneak in as a wild card once they get healthy and get used to working together again. And nothing will fire Bill and Tom up like a 1-2 start.
Packers at Rams - Packers
Okay, maybe this is the easiest pick of the week. The Packers lost to the Bengals, which is embarrassing for everyone's preseason SB pick. They'll come out ferocious in this one, destroying a terrible Rams team that has scored 7 points all year. I don't see the Pack getting far in the playoffs though, the defense is opportunistic but gives up too much and I don't believe in Ryan Grant.
Giants at Buccaneers - Giants
Byron Leftwich has been good. Eli Manning is a lot better. Giants will definitely make the playoffs, Tampa Bay might be able to sneak into a wild card spot.
Titans at Jets - Titans
Big game here, I'm calling it the game of the week. Solid team with good defense and good offense that is somehow 0-2. Surprising team with great defense and good young offense that is somehow 2-0. The Titans really need this game, and I think they get it, if only because Darrelle Revis won't affect this run first offense nearly as much as he affected the two pass first teams the Jets faced this year. I could see both these teams making the playoffs, though the Jets appear much more of a lock at this point.
Chiefs at Eagles - Eagles
Tough game to call with all the QB injuries on both teams. But I think the Eagles are a lot more talented than the Chiefs, and a healthy backup (Kolb) will get his first win over Cassel and the gang. Eagles could make the playoffs if McNabb stays healthy after Week 5, but it won't be easy at all.
49ers at Vikings - Vikings
The 49ers have been huge this year, and they look pretty good on both sides of the ball. But Purple Jesus is just too good, and the 49ers are not quite talented enough to start 3-0. I think the Vikings beat out the Packers and win the division this year. The 49ers may have playoff aspirations as well, however, as the Seahawks and Rams aren't too great and the Cardinals are...well...the Cardinals.
Saints at Bills - Saints
Can't. Stop. Drew. Brees. Saints are winning the NFC South, no question.
Bears at Seahawks - Bears
Jay Cutler suddenly looked like an NFL quarterback again. And as much as I love Seneca Wallace, I don't think he's got what it takes to beat a decent Bears team if Matt Hasselbeck can't go. Even if Matt can go, the Seahawks offense isn't running that well yet, and I think the Bears will take care of it as a result. I don't see either of these teams making th playoffs.
Steelers at Bengals - Steelers
Cincy has played two very good games so far, and one of the biggest surprises for them (and the NFL) has got to be the fact that Cedric Benson looks like a serviceable back. But the Steelers are defending world champs, and 1-1 upstart teams really shouldn't be able to beat 1-1 far superior teams coming off a big loss.
Broncos at Raiders - Broncos
Every Broncos game is ugly this year. Every Raiders game has been ugly for years and years. I could actually see the Raiders pulling this one out in similar fashion to last week's win over the Chiefs, but I'm going Broncos because they're the better team. Man the AFC West is terrible this year, but San Diego should win by default.
Dolphins at Chargers - Fins
Well...maybe San Diego won't have such an easy time winning the division. The Dolphins looked real good last week, particularly in the run game. The Chargers haven't looked terrific and Sproles is not a 30 carry back, so I see the Fins pulling this one out. As I said above, Chargers SHOULD win the AFC East by default. The Fins have an outside shot at a wild card, but I kind of doubt it.
Colts at Cardinals - Colts
Arizona looked better last week, especially in the running game. But the Colts are the Colts, and they're still pretty damn good. I see Colts going to the playoffs, I see Cardinals beating out the 49ers, but only by a little.
Monday Night:
Panthers at Cowboys - Cowboys
Dallas should have opened their new stadium with this game. Jake Delhomme is still trying to figure it all out. I don't think that MNF in the biggest stadium in America is the best place to try to exorcise your demons. This could be over quick.
So there you have it. If you disagree, let me hear it, but I think those are pretty solid choices. Oh, and my official "if the season ended today" predictions?
AFC East: NY Jets
AFC North: Ravens
AFC South: Colts
AFC West: Chargers
Wild Card 1: Steelers
Wild Card 2: Patriots
Just Missed the Cut: Texans, Dolphins
Super Bowl Representative: Ravens
NFC East: Giants
NFC North: Vikings
NFC South: Saints
NFC West: Cardinals
Wild Card 1: Falcons
Wild Card 2: Cowboys
Just Missed the Cut: Packers, Eagles, 49ers
Super Bowl Representative: Saints (The Cardinals made it last year. Why no the Saints?)
Super Bowl Winner: Ravens (because the Saints can't reaaaally win, can they?)
0 comments:
Post a Comment